City Council
Regular MeetingManistee, MI · August 3, 2022
Minutes
SANDS PARK CONTROL BOARD
MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2022
A meeting of the Sands Park Control Board was held on August 3, 2022 and called to order by
the Chair at 9:15 a.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street, Manistee.
PRESENT: Jermaine Sullivan, Jim Thompson, Ron Stoneman
ABSENT: Jeff Mikula
OTHERS PRESENT: City Manager Bill Gambill; Linda Gamache-Chick and Shelia Kaminski –
Manistee County Teen Center; Liz Laskey, Karen Maue, Kelly Greve, Robert Brook – City of
Manistee Parks Commission
I. ROLL CALL.
a. Approval of Agenda – MOTION by Jermaine Sullivan, second by Jim Thompson, to
approve the agenda as presented. Voice vote – all in favor, motion carried.
II. NEW BUSINESS.
a. Approval of Minutes – MOTION by Jermaine Sullivan, second by Jim Thompson, to
approve the minutes from August 20, 2020, as presented. Voice vote – all in favor,
motion carried.
b. Sidewalk on Robinson Street – Related to the Manistee Area Public School’s (MAPS)
bond project. Would like to add sidewalks on Robinson Street but the slope on the
east side of the road will make this very challenging.
CONSENSUS: City and MAPS will continue to have conversations and explore options
as the school’s bond project progresses.
c. Shipping Container Update – Local business was going to donate a shipping container
for skating rink and skate storage at the Manistee County Teen Center but there has
been some delay with getting it cleared out and over to the Sands Park property.
Jermaine shared that Jim and Kathy Grabowski would like to donate a utility shed to
have placed on the property for the storage instead of the shipping container.
SANDS PARK CONTROL BOARD – AUGUST 3, 2022 PAGE 1
Once the shed is purchased, the City/MAPS will meet with Linda Gamache-Chick
and Shelia Kaminski of the Manistee County Teen Center to discuss the best location
for it to be placed.
III. OLD BUSINESS.
a. Tennis Courts – Safety is the primary concern with the condition of the courts.
Removal of the courts by the City was discussed and agreed upon at the last Sands
Park Control Board meeting in August 2020. MAPS is in favor of the removal and
willing to contribute to the cost. Ron Stoneman asked for cost and timeframe for
removal; fall or spring? Bill Gambill will discuss with Jeff Mikula and the board can
discuss at an upcoming meeting. The next Sands Park meeting will be held in about a
month.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT.
• Linda Gamache-Chick, 345 Fourth Avenue – discussed the placement of the utility
shed which will store the skating rink and skates. Ron Stoneman said City/MAPS will
schedule a time to discuss placement with them.
• Liz Laskey, 537 Fourth Street – Asked that the Board would keep the City of
Manistee Parks Commission updated on the tennis court removal and plans for more
courts. They would like to see the school be able to hold regional meets in Manistee
but there must be four more courts for that to happen.
V. ADJOURN.
MOTION by Jim Thompson, second by Jermaine Sullivan to adjourn at 9:27 a.m.
Kelly McColl
Executive Secretary
SANDS PARK CONTROL BOARD – AUGUST 3, 2022 PAGE 2
Agenda
SANDS PARK CONTROL BOARD
MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2022
There will be a meeting of the Sands Park Control Board held on August 3, 2022 at 9:00
a.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street, Manistee, Michigan 49660.
AGENDA
I. ROLL CALL.
a.) Approval of Agenda
II. NEW BUSINESS.
a.) Approval of Minutes from August 20, 2020.
b.) Sidewalk on Robinson Street.
c.) Shipping Container Update.
III. OLD BUSINESS.
a.) Tennis Courts.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT.
VI. ADJOURN.
RS:km
SANDS PARK CONTROL BOARD
MEETING OF AUGUST 20, 2020
A meeting of the Sands Park Control Board was held on Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.
in the Council Chambers, City Hall.
PRESENT: Jim Thompson (virtual participation), Jeff Mikula, Ron Stoneman
ABSENT: Erin Martin Pontiac
OTHERS PRESENT: City Manager Thad Taylor, Alternatives for Area Youth Executive
Director Shelia Kaminski
CALL TO ORDER.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:12 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA.
MOTION by Jim Thompson, second by Jeff Mikula to approve the agenda as presented. Voice
vote – all in favor, motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS.
a. Approval of Minutes – MOTION by Jeff Mikula, second by Jim Thompson to approve the
minutes from October 7, 2019 as presented. Voice vote – all in favor, motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS.
a. Sands Park Utilities
No discussion
b. Review of Alternatives for Area Youth (AAY) Agreement – Discussed pending lease
agreement.
Discussion included:
• Attorney for the school district does not have documentation that the school district
shares ownership with the City on the building that houses the Alternatives for Area
Youth. Thad Taylor will provide.
• Securing appropriate signatures and taking back to the City Council/School Board for
approvals.
Shelia Kaminski, AAY Executive Director, was asked to speak on and answer questions
about the AAY.
SANDS PARK CONTROL BOARD – AUGUST 20, 2020 PAGE 1
Discussion included:
• Reporting yearly to both City and Board of Education.
• City currently provides appropriations. Other funding comes from fundraisers,
concessions, donations and rarely from the United Way.
• Financials are shared with the City directly between AAY Board Treasurer, Cindy Fuller
and City Finance Director, Ed Bradford. Also provided with yearly appropriation request
to the City.
• AAY Board meets every other month.
• Use did not change when Armory Youth Center opened. AAY Teen Center serves the
neighborhoods that surround location and larger community that utilizes the park.
• Daily average number of visitors to the Teen Center is twelve. Does not include
community that utilizes park unless they enter the building.
• Need to communicate the broader use of the facility, especially when soliciting funds.
• All amenities on the Sands Park property are utilized daily. Understanding the use and
frequency of use is helpful to City as they prioritize possible Capital Improvements in the
future.
• Facility is currently meeting the needs of the AAY.
• Upcoming school bond, which was postponed until the May 2021 election due to
COVID-19 concerns, will address some of the use for this property, as well as other
school owned properties.
• Removal of the tennis courts in Sands Park over safety concerns is necessary. If school is
to put more tennis courts in, it is preferred that they be closer to the MMHS campus.
• If property were to be used for anything other than a park, Sands family members would
want financial compensation.
• Goal of both School and City is to gain a stronger understanding of the AAY
organization, their goals and review for success of program, and remain an advocate for
the AAY Teen Center.
• Jeff Mikula will put together information about taking out the tennis courts and submit to
other committee members to present to City Council/Board of Education for approval.
c. Insurance Coverage – Covered under the City of Manistee’s insurance policy – reviewed
yearly.
d. Define Future Capital Improvements – No Capital Improvement projects scheduled. Regular
maintenance of the property only, at this time.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
None
ADJOURN.
MOTION by Jim Thompson, second by Jeff Mikula to adjourn at 1:59 p.m.
Kelly McColl
Executive Secretary
SANDS PARK CONTROL BOARD – AUGUST 20, 2020 PAGE 2
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